Trudeau condemns 'appalling' assassination of Haitian president

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today joined leaders around the world incondemningthe overnight assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Mose and said Canada is willing to help.

"I strongly condemn the appalling assassination of President Mose this morning," Trudeau said in a tweet.

"Canada stands ready to support the people of Haiti and offer any assistance they need."

Mose was shot dead by unidentified attackers athis private residence in the early hours of Wednesday morning local time, according to a statement from the country's interim prime minister, Claude Joseph.The 53-year-old president's wife, Martine Mose, was also shot in the attackand was receiving medical treatment, Joseph said.

The murder comes after months of gang violence, anti-government protests and a recent surge in COVID-19 cases.

It's not clear who is responsible for the attack,which now threatensto plungethe impoverished Caribbean country into a political crisis due toconfusion over who will succeed Mose.

The person who should have succeeded Mose was the president of the Cour de Cassation, RenSylvestre, but he died of COVID-19in Juneand hasn't been replaced. On top of that, the legislature is effectively inactive and Joseph, who says he is in control of the country, was scheduled to be replaced this week with a new prime minister.

WATCH: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reacts to assassination of Haitian president

Trudeau comments on the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Mose

3 years ago

Duration 0:49

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke to reporters during a transit announcement in Calgary on Wednesday.

Mose, 53, was a businessman with littlepolitical experience when he was appointed president in 2017. Hewas the subject of protestsover his decision toruleby decree for more than a year after the country failed to hold legislative elections, and was pushing fora controversial constitutional reform.

World leaders condemn assassination

The assassination drew shock and condemnation from leaders in Latin America, Europe and the U.S., along with calls for calm and unity in Haiti.

Speaking to reporters before boarding theMarine One helicopter, U.S. President Joe Biden said that while more information is needed about what exactly happened and who is behind the attack, the president's murder is "very worrisome."

Colombian President Ivan Duque condemned what he called a "cowardly act" and expressed solidarity with Haiti. He called for an urgent mission by the Organization of American States "to protect democratic order."

Haitian President Mose Jovenel assassinated in his home

3 years ago

Duration 2:45

The Haitian president was shot dead in his home, in what interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph called a "barbaric" act. CBC's Laura McQuillan has the details.

Other initial reactions reflected concern about Haiti's security.

The European Union's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, tweeted that "this crime carries a risk of instability and (a) spiral of violence."

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted that he was "shocked and saddened at the death of President Moise."

Haiti facing a 'difficult time': Ambassador

Haiti's Ambassador to CanadaWeibert Arthussaid thatwhile the country is facing a "difficult time,"he is convinced Haiti willpull through.

"There are reasonsto not think that tomorrow would be better," Arthus told Radio-Canada in an interview."But we've known so much difficult time in our history and we have the capacity to go over the difficult times."

Haiti a country of 11 million people and the poorest in the Americas has long had close ties with Canada. Haitiis the largest recipient of development assistance from Canada in the region.

The country has struggled with political instability,poverty and crimesince the end of the brutal dictatorships of Francois and Jean-Claude Duvalier from 1957 to 1986.

Criminal gangs have driven thousands of people from their homesthis year. Protesters demanding Moise's ouster in 2019 shut down much of the economy and the country has yet to begin vaccinating its 11 million people against the coronavirus, which is surging.

Gilles Rivard, a former Canadian ambassadorto Haiti, said the president's unpopularity combined with Haiti's weak democratic institutions and dysfunctional political culture likely contributed to the killing.

"Ifyou put all these ingredients together, you come to [the] very sad situation of this morning," said Rivard.

"Idon't think the Haitian political [elite] are taking all the action necessary to establish a very strong governance structure. That is missing in Haiti and it's not only with Jovenel Moseit's been like that for the last 10 or 20 years."